WHS in NZ at cafe, bars, etc.

1.
Posted byRem(Budding Member 23 posts) 12y
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Has anyone had much experience in finding work at cafes and such on a working holiday scheme? I'd preferrably like to work in such a setting, but considering that a number of people would probably like to too, I don't know how easily available it would be for someone who can only take up temporary employment.

2.
Posted bysteff(Travel Guru 1162 posts) 12y
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Hi Rem,

my best friend and I were travelling around NZ on a WHS for 10 months and without being native English speakers we never had a problem working in the hospitality sector. What we did was when we arrived at a new place were we wanted to stay for longer (generally the bigger/touristier cities are better for that, eg. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown) we would hand in our CVs to all different sorts of cafes/bars/restaurants and within a couple of days people would ring back to offer us an interview/job. They also knew that we were travellers just staying for a short time and it didn't seem to bother them.

Hth and good luck!

Steff

3.
Posted byRem(Budding Member 23 posts) 12y
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Thanks for sharing, Steff.

During those 10 months, did you stick to the same job? And how did you go about with living quarters?

4.
Posted bysteff(Travel Guru 1162 posts) 12y
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No, we never worked in the same job for more than 3 months (the visa wouldn't allow us to do that anyway) and within the 10 months we had 5 different jobs and worked as hostesses at the airport, in a cafe and bar, as bouncers in a rugby stadium and as sandwich artists at subway. Don't ask how we ended up doing the two last ones .I unfortunately do not really understand what you mean with living quarters, but in case you're talking about accomodation most of the time we were living in our campervan. Only in Queenstown we needed to find a place to stay for winter season.If you got any more questions, let me know.

Steff

5.
Posted byRem(Budding Member 23 posts) 12y
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Yes, I was referring to accomodation. I suppose I probably won't make it around in a campervan, but who knows. (I just have the thought of eventually living there permanently )

About the last two jobs, darn. :P I actually wouldn't mind working at a Subway.

Also, do you mind if I asked what sort of experience you listed in your CV, and how you recieved your wages?

Thanks again.

6.
Posted bysteff(Travel Guru 1162 posts) 12y
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We both listed a bit of experience in the hospitality sector and had set up a N.Z. bank account. It just seemed to be the easiest as they wouldn't pay us in cash. Also wasn't difficult to get an account in N.Z. as a foreign traveller.